Wire-tying machine



May s, 1928.

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- May 8, 1928. 1,669,047

' A; J. GERRARD ET AL WIRE TYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 67 llZ May 8,1928. 1,669,047

A. J. GERRARD E'l" AL WIRE TYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v forming'a .like numerals designate like parts inall the trating the Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES Anne .1. GERRABD AND raavm WRIGHT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIIS; ASBI GNOR TO GEBBABD.

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Application filed January 2, 1920. Serial No. 348,734.

This invention relates to wire tying machines, and has for its object to provide an apparatus which will be comparatively 1nexpensive to manufacture and more efliclent 5 and certain in operation than those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction. and combinations of, parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings part of this specification, in which -v1ews:

- 7 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; A i

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the, arrows;

Figure 5 is a view-similar to Figure 3,- but showing the parts in a different position;

Figure6 is a sectionalyiew taken on the 30 line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is' an enlarged side elevational view of one of the ,wire gripping mach-- ,anisms F gure 8 is an end elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 7;

' Figure 9 is a perspective view of the slot ted wiretwis' ting'pinion;

. Figure'10 is. a view similar to Figures 3 and 5, showing the parts in a still difierent position; i

. Figure 11"is a view similar to Figure 4,

but showing the parts'in a difi'erent'posis "f Y Figure 12 is asectional detail view illus- Figure "13:;isa view'of a portion of the twisted wire;- p 1 indicatesany suitable forging or casting constitutin ,the main frame, which is conveniently-'i'jdivided on the line 2, into the halves 3 and 4. Passing-through the halves or parts 3 and 4 is the main operating shaft 5, provided with the right and left handed.

screw threads 6 and 7 and theehand operwire twisting mechanism; and

hook or lever pivoted ated' knob or member 8." Carried by the screw thread 6 is the sle'evelike nut 9, carrying the body portion 10, carrying .the sleeve 11 slidably mounted on the gulde-rod 12. Also mounted on the body portion isthelever 13'pivoted at 14, and provided with the operating cam 15 taking against the cam like surface 16 carried by jaw 17 pivoted at 18, and serrations or teeth 19.

Carried by the screw thread 7 is another sleeve like nut 20 provided with a body portion 21 carrying the lever 22 pivoted at 23, and having the cam 24 taking against the cam surface 25 carried by the gripping jaw 26 pivoted at 27 and having the teeth or serrations 28as shown. Also carried by the body portion 21 is the guide sleeve 29 mounted to slide on the guide rod 30, The right and left hand screw threads 6 and 7 as well as the operating rod or shaft 5 are turned by means of a ratchet 31, actuated by a pawl 32, carried by the operating lever 33.

On the inside of the halves 3 and 4 and provided with the mounted on the rod 5, is the main twisting;

gear wheel 34, with which'meshe's the operating pinion 35, mounted on the short shaft the wire gripping 36,flcarrying the ratchet 37 operated by the pawl 38 mg with the ma n gear 34, -'is the wire twisting pinion 40 provided with the wire twisting outwardly tapered slot 41 as shown.

carried by the lever 39. Also mesh- Extending from the .main half or per tion 3 is .the tapered apron like member 42, and extending from the portion 4 of the frame is the similar member--43.

Secured tothemember 42, is the strip like" and secured to the member 43 is member 44,

the similar. strip like member 45. Between each of the members 42 and 43 and the main half members 3'and 4 are the slots 46 which have a height suflicient to permit a double strand @of the wire to rotate therein during the twisting operatiqn, while each of the members 44., and 545 are provided with an inclined tapered slot 47* which will accommodate a pair of wire strands when in a horizontal position, but will not permit said strands to rotate'therein.-.

The slot 41 of the pinion 40is likewise so narrow that a double strand of wire cannot rotate thereininde ndently of the-slot.

' Secured tothe Kady at 51. Said lever 50 is provided with the wine holding catch portion 10 is 1 the" is in prolongatieri a:

portion 52, and the hook portion 53 operated by the pin 54 carried b the jaw member 17 as best illustrated in Figure 8. Also secured to the said body portion 10, as by the screw 55 is the member 56, having the slot 57 Passing through the bosses 58 and 59, of the portions 3 and 4 of the main frame is the shaft 60 to which is attached the operating lever 61, and carried by one end of said shaft 60 is the eccentrically disposed pin 62, while the other end thereof carries a similarly disposed eccentric pin 63, all as will be clear from Figures 3 and 4.

Mounted on 'an enlargement 64 of the portion 3 of the main frame, is the cutter jaw 65, pivoted as at 67 and provided with the slot66 in which the eccentrically disposed pin 62 works. In like manner mounted on the enlargement 68 of the portion 4 of the main frame is pivoted as at 69 the cutter jaw 70 having the slot 71 in which operates the eccentrically disposed pin 63. The cutter jaw is provided with the cutting edge 72 terminating at the vertical portion' or edge 73, so that said cutting edge will only sever the inner bight 74 of the wire, while said vertical edge 73 will slide downward on the side of the companion bight 75 of the wire, all as will appear more fully hereinafter. In a like manner the cutting jaw is provided with a cutting edge 76 terminated by the vertical edge 77 of the slot 78 with which said jaw 70 is provided, so that only the bight of the wire will be severed, while the bight 74 will enter said slot 78 and escape the cutting action for a purpose also to be explained below.

The operation of the mechanism so far disclosed is as follows :The machine is located on top of the box or container to be wired, one end of the wire 81 is placed beneath the gripplng jaw 17, the lever 13 is thrown into the position indicated in Figure 2, and said wire is firmly clamped by the serrations 19 against the anvil 80 which is formed by an angular extension of the body portion 10. The bight 74 of said who 81 is now passed well back into the twQ. slots 47 and 46, as well as into the slot 41. Said Wire 81 is then passed under the gripping jaw 26 and anvil 83 as indicated in dotted lines on the right hand side of Figure 2, whence it passes down one side, under the bottom, andup the other side of the box to be wired, whereupon said wire 81 is brought back to the lever 50, into the slot 57 and is there held by the hook 52. The bightr75 of said wire 81 is now passed well back into the two slots 47 and 46 as well as into the piston slot 41, so that the two bights 74 75 lie close along side each other, as indicated.

The other end of said wire 81 which the bight 75, is now reeaoer passed between the gripping jaw 26 and anvil 83, whereupon the lever 22 is thrown into the position shown in Figure 2, and the serrations 28 firmly hold said end 85 in position. The lever 33 is' now operated, whereupon the right and left hand screws ,6 and 7 cause the gripping jaws l7 and 26 to separate and the wire 81 to be tightened around the box. In beginning this operation the gripping jaws and their associated slides should first be brought in close to the frame members 3 and 4, of the machine, and the wire may then be tightened to any desired degree The bightsv '74 and 75 of the wire will lie close together and on each-side of the center of the twistingpin- .ion 40, as best shown in Figure 12; The

wire having been thus tightened the lever 39 is now operated to revolve the pinion 35, gear 34, and twisting pinion 40, whereupon. the bights 74 and 75 are twisted together-as indicated in Figure 13.

After the twisting operation has been thus-completed it is evident that the bights '74, and 75 will still be held in their horiand 75 to rotate therein during the twistingv operation, while the slots 41 and 47 are so narrow that said bights are prevented from rotating therein, for otherwise the twisted tie or joint could not be formed. After the severing operation the reversal of the lever 13 from the position shown in Figure 2, to the position shown in Figure 7, will release one of the severed ends of the wire 81, and a similar reversal. of the lever 22- fromits position shown in Figure 2 will likewise release the other end of said wire. Further, by reversing the motion of the lever 33, its double pawl 32 will bring the gripping jaws 17 and 26, and their associated slides back to their original .positions ready for a new operation.

In twisting the wire, however, it is important to provide for a suitable number of turns between the bights 74 and 75, to insure a strong joint, and this number may vary with the wire used, the character of the box to be wired, and the hard usage to which it will be subjected during shipment. It is also important to insure the slot 41, of the pinion 40, always being stopped at the end of the twisting operation in register with the 5 slots. 46 and 47.

v the bights 74 and 75', for given'angular motion of the gear 34, so that by limiting or varying said angular motion of said gear,

we are enabled'to limit orvary the twists in the joint. We limit.or vary ssiidangular motion of said gear 34 and insure the registry of the slot 41 with the slots 46 and 47, as follows The gear 34 is; providedwith a hole' or recess 90 near its periphery,'and a plunger or pin 91 control led by the spring .92, is carried in the barrel 93,-mounted in the barrel 94 rigid with the sleeve 95 encircling the screw thread 6 as, best shown in Figure 1.

A collar'97 holdsthe sleeve 95 and its coacting parts in position. The plunger 91- is 'rovided with the hand operated knurled linob 98 and with a projection 99 coacting with the cam surface 100 with which the bar-. 'rel 94 is provided.

Supposing an angular travel of 180 of the peripherye of fgear 34 will produce the desired num r 0 turns, of the pinion 40, the hole 90 of said ar will be set somewhat less than 180 a ead of the plunger 91, see dotted lines Figure 12, when said plunger is in its extreme upper position, as is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10.-

When said hole 90 has completed its less than 180 of travel,-'it will register with said plunger, which latter will snap into said hole and the ear 34'and slot 41 willbe carried beyond t eend of their normal travel with said plunger by an an ular distance which will be limited by the ower position of the plun er. This lower position maybe de-u -termmed by the end of the slot 102 with which the housing member 3 is provided, or

it may be limited by the compression of the shock absorbing spring 103 which controls the movements of the head 104 with which the cushioning device or shock absorber 105 rovided.

is i

he spring 103 being thus compressed and the plunger 91 having reached the end of its wiretwlsting stroke, the operator will release his grip,'wh ereupon the spring 103 will return'the plunger 91 andgears 34 and 40 to their normal positions. That is to say: at the same time, the motion of gear 34,

pinion 40, and the-slot 41 is reversed, and

the latter will be-brought back and held in register with the slots 46, and 47, as the timing plunger .91 again reaches its extreme upper position. The bights 74 and 75. of the wire 81 are now severed in the manner above disclosed, when the machine may he slid out from beneath the twisted and finished wire joint.

To set the machine for twistin the bights of anotherwire', theknurled knoh 98 may be pulled out straight or it may be turned so thatthe-pin 99 will traverse the; cam 100 in either of which cases the plunger 91 will leave thehole 90 and free the gear 34.

It is desirable to adjust the extreme upper 0516011 of theplunger 91 which is nor .mal y. determined by the upper end of the of travel of the plunger 91 being thus readily determined, and the movements of the lever 39 being stopped by the end of the said travel of the plunger 91, it is a simple matter 'to first adjust the angular position of the hole 90 in the gear 34, to such a position as will cause the pinion 40 to give any desired numberof twists to'the bights74 and of-the wire 81.

. Referring more particularlyto Figure 9, it is preferred to provide the wire twisting pinion.40 with a slot 111, which is as wide as theslots 46, and therefore, of dimensions suflicient to permit the bights 74 and 75 to rotate therein independently of the pinion. Into this slot 111'we may next secure the U-shaped yoke member 112 provided with the narrow slot 41, or we may out both the pinion 40 and the U-sha'ped member 112 out of a single piece of metal. case the pinion is provided with the relatively long andwider slot 111, and the shorter and narrower slot 41 parallel to said wider slot.

.oftwists that are to be' put into the wire and for insuring the registry of the slot 41 with the slots 46 and 47; and that the frame members 3 and 4 constitute a housing for the twistinggear train; i

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of the construction,

as well as the arrangement of parts with-..

out departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore, we do not wish tobe limited to the above disclosure except as may be required by the claims.

What we claim is 1. In awire tying machine the combination of means to grip each end of the wire; means comprising a screw to move said wire gripping means relatively to each other to tension said wire; mea'ns comprlslng a hook.

to hold the wire in position for twisting mo It will now be clear that this machine while being tensioned; and twisting means for twisting two parts of the wire together while under tension, substantially as described.

2. In a wire tying machine the combination of means comprising tension slides to grip each end of the wire; means to move said slides and wire gripping-means relatively-to eachother to tension said wire; means to hold the wire in position for twist-' ing while being tensioned; and twisting means comprising a gear and a slotted pin ion meshing with said gear for twisting two parts of the wire together while under tension, substantially as described. p

' 3. In a wire tying machine the combination of a pair of slidable tension devices adapted to .grip the two. ends of the wire; screw means for separating said tension devices to put the wire under tension; means to twist two bights of the wire while in parallel relation under tension; and means to hold the wire in position duringthe twisting operation, substantially as described. I

4. In a wire tying machine'the combination of a pair of slidable tension devices adapted to grip the two ends of the wire; screw means for separating said tension devices' to put the wire under tension; means comprising a gear and a slotted pinion associated wit-h said screw means adapted to twist two bights of the wire while under tension; and means comprising ahook to hold the wire in position during the twisting operation, substantially as described.

5. In a wire twisting machine the combination of amain operating shaft provided with screw threads; wire tension slides adapted to be separated by said shaft; a gear mounted on said shaft; a slotted wire twisting pinion meshing with said gear; and means coacting with said gear to stop its mot-ion when the slot in said pinion has traveled a predetermined angulardistance, substantially as described.

6. In a wire twisting machine. the combination of a main operating shaftprovided with screw threads; wire tension slides adapted to be separated-by said shaft; a gear mounted. on said shaft; a slotted wire twisting pinion meshing'with said gear; and means com rising a stop plunger and ja shock absor ing means-coacting with said a gear to stop its motion'when the slot in said pinion has traveled a predetermined angular distance, substantiallyias described.

7'. In a wire tying machine the combination of a pair of wire tensioning slides; a screw shaft to move saidslides relatively to each other; means comprising a pawl and ratchet. means for operating said screw shaft; eans for twisting together two biglits o the wire while under tension; and

additional hand operated means" for facili tating the return of said slides totheir normal positions, substantially as described.

8. Ina wire tying machine the combinatidn of a pair of wire tensioning slides, each comprising a wire gripping jaw and a lever for operating said jaw; a screw means for moving said slides relatively to each other; means for twisting two portions of the tensioned wire; means for holding the parts against rotation and in parallel relation during the twisting operation; and hand operated means for actuating said screw means, substantially as described.

9. In a wire tying machine the combination of a pair of wire tensioning slides each comprising a wire gripping pivoted jaw and a pivoted lever for operating said jaw; a screw means for moving said slides rela-. tively to eachother; means for twisting together two bights of the tensioned wire; and

hand operated pawl and ratchet means foractuatin said screw means, substantially as descri ed.

10.In a wire tying machine a wire ten- SiOning, means comprising a pivoted ripping jaw; apivoted lever provided wlth a cam; connections between said jaw and cam whereby saidjaw may be both opened and closed by themovements of said lever, and

means for twisting together two bights of the tensioned wire; substantially as described. v

11. In a wire tying machine a wire tensioning means comprising a pivoted gripping jaw; an anvil coacting with said jaw; a support for said jaw rigid with said anvil; a pivoted lever provided'with a cam; and conneetions between said jaw and cam whereby said jaw may be both opened and closed by the movements of said lever, and means for twisting together two bights of the tensioned wire; substantially as described.

12. In a wire tying machine the combination of a supporting frame; a wire tension ing screw shaft supported by said frame; a

rain of gears supported by said shaft; a

slotted wire twisting pinion actuated by said train of gears; means for tensioning the wire carried by said shaft; and means supported by said frame for cutting the wire. after the actuation of said slotted pinion,

substantially as described. v

13.In a wiretying machine the combination of a supporting frame; a wire tensioning screw shaft supported by said frame; a train of gears supported bysaid shaft; a slotted wine twisting pinion actuated by said train of gears; slidable means for tensioning the wire carried by said shaft; pivoted means supported by said frame for cutting the wire after the actuation of said slotted pinion; and an operating lever for actuating said last named means, substan. 'tially as described.

I while under tension;

14. Ina wire tying machine the combinaon of a pair of wire tension slides; a screw shaft for actuating said slides; guides for said slides; a gear carried by sai shaft; a slotted wire. twisting pinion meshing with said gear; and means for controlling the angular movements of said gearand pinion comprising a. shock absorbing means for returning the slot of said pinion to a predetermined Iposition, substantially as described.

n a wire tying machine thecombina-' tion of a pair of wire tension slides; a screw shaft for actuating said slides; guides for said slides; a gear carried by said shaft; a slotted wire twisting pinion meshing with said gear; means for controlling the angular movements of said gear and pinion comprising a shock absorbing means for vreturniigg the slot of said pinionto a predetermin position; and a pair of eutters. for severing different bights of stantially as described.

16. In a wire tying machine the combination of, means comprising a train of ears for twisting .a plurality ofbights o the wire" to ther; operat' means, for said train 0 gears; and. a dliv'tional means for readily changing the number of twistsgiven said bights under the action of said operat ing means, substantially as described.

a 17. In a wire tying machine the combina- 'tion of means for tensioning the wire;

means com risin atrain of gears for twisting a plura ity ofbights of the wire together I operating means for at train; and a ditional means for readi changing the number of twists given said ights without changing said gear train, substantially as. described.

-18. In a wire tying machine the combination of means com risin a train of gears for twisting a plum ity o bights of the wire together; and means com risin a slot, a

said

. spring pressed plungerlan a cue ioning detogether; and means comprisin a -means to adjust the length of sai slot,

substantially as described.

.said wire; a shaft wire cutters provi vice for readily changing the number of twists 'given' said bights without changing said gear train, substantially as described.

19. In a wire tying machine the combination of means comprisin a train of gears for-twisting a plurality o bights of the wire slot, and

a. spring controlled plunger for readily changing the'uumber of twists given said bights without. changing said geartrain,

20. In a wire tying machine v the combination of a'wire t'ensioning means; means for twisting together a plurality of bights of rovided with eccentrics; ed with means for severpredetermined bight only adapted to be a uated by said 'eccentrics; and means for operating said shaft and eccentrics, substantially as. described.

the twisted wires, sub-a e V stationary slot; and

causing said wire twisting slot to be brou ht under tension s'u' 21. In a wire tying machine the combination of means to hold the wire; means to tension the wire; means to twista lurality of bights of the wire together whi tension; operatin means for said twisting means; and additional means to readily change the number of twists that 'are to be given said bights,- substantiallyas described.

22. In a wire tying machine the combination of means for twisting together a-plu-- rality of bights of a wire; stationary members located a predetermined distance apart and havin slots adapted to receive said bights; an movable cutters disposed a pre: determined distance apart for severing said bights substantially as described.

- 23. In a wire tying machine the combination of a wire twisting means comprising a movable wire twisting slot and a stationary holding slot; operating means adapted to move said twisting, slot slightly past. said automatic means for back in re ister with sai substantia y as described.

24. In a wire tying machinev the combination with a frame adapted to crawlyover the package durin the wire tying operation, of means for hol ing two bights of the wire in wire holding s ot,

parallel relation; a wire tensioning means;

of the'body of the wire which is to form the' other end of the hoop, two separated means for holding said hoop ends to prevent their being twisted, a twister engaging both wires between said holding means to twist them,"

a eutter-baracting complementally with one of said holding means to cut one wire at sub.-

stantially one" end of the twisted section,

and meansfor actuating said cutter to out said wire at the end of the twist forming movement.

26. Ina package binding implement, tensioning means inc uding, a plurality of movable members for retaining a wire binder and operati means for shifting'said members relativ y to each other for increas' or' decreasing interval separating members where wirebinder is placed neat to thetake up of slack .therei'n by! .pull in two directions on'said wire binder, in combination with,

twisting means constituting a unit of th implement and positioned intermediate said members for twisting together. crossing end portions of the wire binder.

27. In a packa binding 'm lenient, tensioning means in'c uding a plursility of heads with connecting means therefor and opere under ating means for shifting said heads re latively one to the other so as to vary the interval separating said heads and thereby place. tension upon a wire binder subsequently to taking up slack therein, in combination with a twister-head positioned in a nonshiftable relation to said tensioning heads and intermediate the same, andtwisb ing means carried by said twister head and operable at will upon crossing portions of said wire binder for twisting the same while the latter is under tensionby the action of I ating to said tensioning heads, said twisting action upon the binder whileunder tension operbinder.

28. In a package binding implement, ten sioning means including a plurality of gripper heads with means for imparting movement conjointlv thereto for placing tension upon a binder by pulling enil portions thereof in opposite directions simultaneously, in

' combination with twisting means constituting a unit of said implement, said twisting means being positioned intermediate said gripper heads and operable subsequently to the tensioning means for twisting directly-together the crossing end portions i of a binder and further tensioning the latter while the latter is heldunder tension by the action of said tensioning means.

29. In a package binding implement, binder-tensioning means including a plurality of gripper heads with a connecting member and operating means" for imparting movement conjointly to'said gripper heads,

for the reception of, the crossing ends of a" binder for uniting the latter while the binder place increased tension upon said is under tension by the action of said tensioning means.

30. In a wire tying machine, the combination with gripping devices spaced apart from each other and respectively movable towards and away from each other, said gripping devices respectively adapted to receive and grip portions of the Wire disposed in substantially parallel relation and extending in respectively opposite directions, of means to move said gripping devices in opposite directions to tension the wire, and means disposed between said grippihg devices to engage the parallel portions of the wire and twist them together while under tension.

31. In a wire tying machine the combination with means to "grip and hold oppositely extending portions of the binder wire in substantially parallel relation to each other, of means interposed between said gripping means to engage and twist together the parallel ortions of the 'wire, and movable cutters isposed at opposite sides of the twisting means, and operating to sever the oppositely extending ortions of the wire, each cutter having ab ank portion in its cutting edge whereby only one of the two parallel portions of the'wire is severed by one cutter and the other of said parallelportions is severed by the other cutter.

32. In a wire tying machine, the combi-s nationwi t h means to twist together substantially parallel portions of a binder wire disposed in oppositely disposed directions with respect to each other, of movably actuated cutters disposed at opposite sides of the twisting means, one 0 said cutters constructed to sever only one of said wire por, tions and the other constructed to sever only the other of said wire portions.

In testimony whereof we aflixour signatures.

ALEC JOHN GERRARD. BARVIN WRIGHT. 

